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Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:37 pm

Looking to upgrade my battery, running all stock and wish to continue to keep it a simple charging system. Dont want to run dual battery or battery isolator. Any brand or battery size would be appreciated...

Mon Apr 09, 2012 11:09 pm

apparently optima batteries are one of the top.

tiny little gell cell that apparently lasts in some cases 20 years.

Mon Apr 09, 2012 11:15 pm

If your running "all stock: then there is no need for a fancy battery.

Any standard battery will do, its just up to you how much extra you want to pay out for anything else thats got a better warranty and advertised life.

I have a red optima on my bus, if i leave my lights on or the engine has difficulty starting it has more charge in reserve to get me out of a problem.

You pays your money an takes your choice. :wink:

Mon Apr 09, 2012 11:48 pm

My personal experience with Optimas has been somewhat worse than dismal... No, Sir... Don't like 'em. But I agree that a good brand stock battery will be more than good enough.

Tue Apr 10, 2012 2:42 am

stock size NAPA Gold battery for me...

Tue Apr 10, 2012 3:11 am

R-42 is the short/proper size battery for a VW under the seat.

Tue Apr 10, 2012 7:27 am

I was looking at the top line autozone, napa and whats the difference in the colors of the optima battery???

Tue Apr 10, 2012 7:37 am

vlad01 wrote: apparently optima batteries are one of the top.

tiny little gell cell that apparently lasts in some cases 20 years.

I don't want to get on the optima vs. lead acid topic here, but here's some optima info.

Optima batteries are not gel cell, they are AGM (absorbed glass mat). You are supposed to use a charger with an AGM mode as well, my old charger didn't have it... Size 34R fits nice and has the posts reversed which allows for the ground and 12v cables to be on the right sides.

Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:23 am

Thanks for the added input, I appreciate it...

Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:03 am

You didn't say - 6-volt or 12-volt?

6-volt... Get an Optima or one of those types of batteries.
12-volt... Use anything.

Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:16 am

EverettB wrote: You didn't say - 6-volt or 12-volt?

6-volt... Get an Optima or one of those types of batteries.
12-volt... Use anything.

I prefer one that is charged and doesn't have a dead cell in it. :wink: I've been using the lead/acid batteries for years, and have no real complaints with them, other than going dead. They last on average about 5 to 9 years. I use them with the stock charging system, and haven't done an alternator upgrade. To me, it's hard to justify the added expense of the Optima battery. I also park my t-3s for the winter months, which is probably a little hard on them, but I'm mainly trying to keep my cars out of the salt (does way more damage than a 50 to 70 dollar battery). :shock:

Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:32 am

I have a buddy that swears by the Optimas, but I know he has had to replace them too often for my liking vs. their price.

I've had great luck with basic wally world batteries in my daily drivers... all have lasted over 5 years.

Tue Apr 10, 2012 1:29 pm

12 volt 1973 squareback with stock f.i

Tue Apr 10, 2012 1:59 pm

I bought into Optimas for my daily. I was not really a strong supporter except they give 36 month full replacement warranty (which they no longer give I don't think).

My wife bought a battery for her car at Sam's Club. It was 49.99. After about 5 years, that battery wouldn't hold a charge. They tested it, pro-rated it, and gave her a new battery and about $12 refund.

Turns out the new one was less than the old one. She looked at me and asked why did I waste $150 on a red top Optima?

Good Question.........

Tue Apr 10, 2012 4:11 pm

The only reason I could think of for a gel battery is the worry about leakage but still you can get a maintence free lead battery. I do know if I get another rail that I run offroad and play hard with I will get gel battery but it will also be a factor in how I would mount the battery as well.

Bobnotch- do you ever put a trickle/tender charger on during the winter? I used one before on a motorcycle and it did will with those small batteries.

Tue Apr 10, 2012 4:12 pm

aageraci wrote: I bought into Optimas for my daily. I was not really a strong supporter except they give 36 month full replacement warranty (which they no longer give I don't think).

My wife bought a battery for her car at Sam's Club. It was 49.99. After about 5 years, that battery wouldn't hold a charge. They tested it, pro-rated it, and gave her a new battery and about $12 refund.

Turns out the new one was less than the old one. She looked at me and asked why did I waste $150 on a red top Optima?

Good Question.........

that is a good question haha.

I got a Delkor battery in my car, its the top end brand of AC delco battery range I think?

wasn't too expensive, around 140 bucks, cheapest nasty battery in aus atm are about 80 bucks.

Have had the Delkor since 2008 and did run it completely dead last year, so dead it read few mV on the multi meter and nothing not even an LED would light up. I thought it was toast, I jump started it and its been as good as it was before it got run down.

dam good battery!

PS. my alternator is too small, I had nothing but trouble with my 120A alternator so I am running a pissy 75A from a few models down which barely keeps up and runs hot as. Still no problem with the battery.

Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:26 pm

No real need to go 'fancy' but if you are considering it: Look into Odyssey batteries as well as the Optimas. I have a yellow top Optima in my Mazdaspeed3 but will likely buy an Odyssey for my Variant.

Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:52 pm

i have had lots of experience with optima batteries in both new cars and my bug. most newer cars will kill an optima battery in less than 2 years due to all of the electronics that they run even when the car is off. and due to engine bay temps of theses newer cars and most not being installed correctly. i have had a red top optima in my bug for over 5 years and it has been drained several time due to leaving lights on or from sitting for months. jump started driven for a few miles and as good as new. i also have 2 in my truck and 1 sitting on my work bench that has not seen a charger in 6 months and will still jump start a car or even start a car with out a battery.

in my opinion i would run a dry cell (AGM) any day over lead acid. they take a little more beating than lead acid battery and if you voltage regulator takes a crap and decides to allow your generator or alt. to over charge you wont have battery acid in your car on pan.

remember lead acid batteries even though they say they are seal have vent and release acid vapors all the time.

Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:53 pm

Optima batteries qare a pig in a prom dress. Have had a few of them and had spotty results. If a battery cost twice as much it should last twice as long.IMO I switched back to lead an go with a high cca no issues. The biggest problem you will find with. A battery in a car that is not driven often is that they tend to discharge beyond recovery. You can. Buy a $20 or less trickle charger and. Curb some of hat you just have to plug it in. The optima does look nice though just not 200 nice. I can get two batteries and two lap dances for that price and still have my car start right up when I gotta get gone.

Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:55 pm

toddgsanford wrote: The optima does look nice though just not 200 nice. I can get two batteries and two lap dances for that price and still have my car start right up when I gotta get gone.

...those are either cheap batteries or transgender lap dances... :lol: